Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United Preview: Prediction, Probable Lineups, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Manchester United will aim to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Sunday.

Gameweek 31 of the 2022/23 Premier League season continues on Sunday, with two matches scheduled. The action kicks off with the game between West Ham United and Arsenal. And the main event will witness Nottingham Forest welcoming Manchester United to Old Trafford.

Nottingham Forest came into the 2022/23 season as one of the favourites to go back down to the EFL Championship. But the Tricky Trees have produced some surprise results, including wins over Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. However, Steve Cooper’s men are currently on a nine-game winless run stretching back to early February. And they have thus dropped into the relegation zone.

On the other hand, Manchester United were one of the most in-form teams after the World Cup and hardly dropped points in the Premier League. But the Red Devils have blown hot and cold in the last six weeks, winning five of their last nine games. The latest setback came in the 2-2 draw with Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League, which came with two casualties.

Manchester United and Nottingham Forest have met each other thrice this season already. And the Tricky Trees are yet to find the back of the net, with the Red Devils scoring eight goals. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Nottingham Forest

Steve Cooper has a plethora of injury troubles hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Sunday, the Nottingham Forest manager will be bereft of the services of 11 first-team players.

Dean Henderson (thigh), Willy Boly (hamstring), Serge Aurier (unspecified), Renan Lodi (knock), Omar Richards (calf), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh), Ryan Yates (shoulder), Giulian Biancone (knee), Chris Wood (hamstring), and Gustavo Scarpa (knee) are all on the sidelines.

But Henderson would have been ineligible to face his parent club Manchester United even if he was available. So there is no looking past Keylor Navas between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest set to line up in the usual 4-3-2-1 formation in front of him.

Neco Williams is an automatic pick as the right-back in Aurier’s absence, And Harry Toffolo should fill Lodi’s void on the left flank. Meanwhile, Felipe and captain Joe Worrall should form the central defensive partnership. As for the midfield unit, Remo Freuler, Danilo, and Orel Mangala pick themselves.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Dennis should spearhead the Nottingham Forest attack, with Taiwo Awoniyi not being fit enough to start. Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson will support Dennis in the final third. And the duo will be Nottingham Forest’s best bet to trouble David de Gea on Sunday.

Probable Lineup (4-3-2-1): Navas; Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Toffolo; Freuler, Danilo, Mangala; Gibbs-White, Johnson; Dennis

Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has had the ignominy of receiving heartbreaking news after his team’s latest game this week. Against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, the Manchester United manager might be without as many as eight first-team players.

Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Raphael Varane (ankle) are the latest absentees. And the former has played his last game of the season, with Manchester United confirming the news with an official statement. The duo has joined Tom Heaton (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee), Alejandro Garnacho (ankle), and Marcus Rashford (groin) on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of Luke Shaw (hamstring) and Scott McTominay (knock). The duo might not be fit enough to start but might make the matchday squad. Meanwhile, David de Gea is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him.

Varane and Martinez’s absence means Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire will form the central defensive partnership. Diogo Dalot should start as the right-back, with Tyrell Malacia retaining his spot on the left flank.

As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen should make his first start since recovering from a long-term ankle injury. Eriksen’s return will afford some rest to Marcel Sabitzer. The Dane will join Casemiro in the double pivot in the middle of the park.

Bruno Fernandes will be the most advanced midfielder for Manchester United. And considering he will miss the return leg against Sevilla next week, the Portuguese international will leave everything on the pitch. Finally, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Wout Weghorst should complete the offensive unit. So Anthony Martial will get some rest as ten Hag manages his minutes.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho; Weghorst

Key Stats

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Harry Maguire

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Manchester United’s loss might somehow be Harry Maguire’s gain, as ironic as it sounds. The English international has seen his stock plummet this season, becoming a bit-part player for the Red Devils. And he became the butt of jokes after scoring the bizarre own goal against Sevilla this week.

The experienced defender now has the opportunity to end the 2022/23 season strongly. And with Lisandro Martinez done for the campaign, Maguire will likely start every game in the next six weeks. And ahead of crunch talks regarding his future, he will be hoping to help Manchester United achieve their objectives.

Prediction

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United

Nottingham Forest might be in all sorts of trouble amid the recent winless run. But they are strong at home, sitting in the 12th spot on the home Premier League table. However, the Red Devils found a way to unlock their stubborn defence at City Ground in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have not been solid travellers, having a dreadful goal difference of -12 on the road. But the Red Devils have their strongest midfield partnership back, which should pave the way for a match-winning effort.

However, Nottingham Forest will not go down without a fight, capitalising on the absence of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. In the end, Manchester United should hold on to eke out a narrow 2-1 win at City Ground on Sunday.

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